Page 15

15

CARLOTTA

I start to march to the front door, but Damon grabs my arm, spinning me around to face him.

“Your brothers put your care in my hands and I won’t jeopardize that for a few more fucks.”

Maybe he’s right but, wow, that really stung. For as much as we’ve gotten to know each other this past week, that sentence makes me wonder if we’re even remotely on the same page. Or planet. Despite our agreeing that what happens up north stays up north, my foolish heart was hoping for a different outcome.

“Carlotta, wait,” he says. “I need you to understand your safety is of the utmost concern to myself and your family. Gallo is still out there and you need to be taken somewhere safe.”

“I understand that, but I’m not the only one he wants. He said he’s going to destroy the entire Rossi family—that includes me, my brothers, their wives and children, right? Yet why am I the only one getting put on a plane and sent over to Sicily?”

“Your brothers can protect their wives and kids. You don’t have that.”

His reminder is like nails down a chalkboard. He’s basically telling me he won’t be with me once we return to the city, and even though I know that, suddenly I’m livid. At him, at my brothers, at Gallo and the situation.

“Let’s go then,” I hiss, spinning back around. I’m spitting angry and I know it isn’t fair. Everyone is just trying to protect me, but I can’t help it. This whole thing just further emphasizes that I’m alone, vulnerable and it’s time to run back to my parents because I don’t have a husband or boyfriend to protect me. Because clearly this family thinks the women all need to be guarded by a man or else they’re helpless. Easing pickings. Grr.

Gritting back my frustration, I mentally duel with the double-edged sword of my femininity while Damon gathers his stuff and shoves it into his duffel bag, preparing for our departure. Since I don’t have anything, except for my dress, I just sit there and stew in my anger.

Being a woman in the Rossi family isn’t an easy thing, especially when I have four overprotective brothers breathing down my neck all the time. I appreciate their concern but, at the same time, they need to understand I can be trusted to make my own decisions. Because I think that’s what is upsetting me the most—I am getting zero say in what is happening.

And that’s frustrating beyond anything else.

Once Damon is ready, we step outside and he locks up. I can’t pretend I’m not going to miss this little cabin and the time we spent here. It was truly magical. But cold, hard reality just clunked me upside the head and now it’s time to say goodbye to everything that has made me so happy this past week.

And, unfortunately for me, I’m not ready to do that.

I get in the Challenger while he tosses the duffel bag into the trunk and I sigh heavily. A part of me is furious that my brothers are forcing me to go hide in Sicily with my parents, a bigger part is grateful because I know they mean well, and an even bigger part of me is angry at Damon for following their demands and ignoring what I want and need.

Maybe I’m being a brat or maybe I’m being a woman trying to assert her independence. Whatever the case, I feel like arguing and letting my frustrations out, and the only person I can fight with is Damon.

As soon as he settles into the driver’s seat and starts the car, I turn to face him. I hope he’s ready because I have a lot to say. And he’s probably not going to like any of it.

“You do realize you’re acting like Miceli’s lapdog,” I tell him.

A muscle flexes in his jaw, but he refrains from commenting.

“Even though they like to think they know everything, my brothers aren’t the boss of me.”

“You’re going to Sicily,” he states in a firm voice. “Nothing you can say is going to change that.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Carlotta, Gallo’s thugs already got you once. Your family doesn’t want that to happen again which means it’s my job to get that ass of yours on the jet waiting to take you to a safe place. Now stop being a brat or so help me…”

His voice trails off on that threat and I sit up straighter. “Or what? What do you think you’d do?”

“I don’t think anything,” he says darkly, turning to glance over at me. “I’m saying that if you continue to act like a brat then I’m going to treat you like one.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” I press. I’m striving for whiny, but my voice starts sounding husky.

“It means I’m going to spank your ass and drag you onto that plane.”

I suck in a breath and I know his words aren’t supposed to turn me on, but they do. His palm on my rear end is hardly a threat. I’d like it there.

“I’m not scared of you, Damon. And your threat…well, I think it’s having the opposite effect that you intend.”

He merely grunts and turns his attention back to the road.

But I’m not letting him off the hook that easily. “Because what if I want you to spank me? What if the idea of your hand on my ass is making me wet and?—”

“Jesus, Carlotta. Enough.” His voice sounds strained and I don’t miss the way he shifts in his seat. He’s just as uncomfortable as I am. Aching like I’m aching.

“Is it, though, Damon? Enough?” I press. “Because no matter how many times you came inside me, I’m still craving more. Still wanting to feel the pleasure only you can give me.”

“We agreed once we went back to the city, you and I would go our separate ways,” he reminds me, but he doesn’t sound quite as convinced as he was before. Probably because it’s a terrible idea.

“I know what you said, but it’s not what I want. I think we owe it to each other to explore whatever this is more fully. Don’t you?”

But he shakes his head. So damn stubborn. “No,” he grits out. “It’s impossible. You’re leaving and I already told you I can’t do that.”

“Why? Because of what happened with Caitlin? This is totally different?—”

“I don’t want a relationship with you, Carlotta.” My heart crumbles within my chest at his cruel words and then his voice softens. But, it’s already too late. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I thought I made that clear.”

For a long moment I don’t say anything. Then the most random thought occurs to me. “I left my dress at the cabin.”

“I can send it to you,” he offers.

“Don’t bother,” I reply sadly. “I don’t want to be reminded of that night. Or of you.”

From the corner of my eye, I think I see him visibly flinch. But maybe it’s just my imagination. After all, I did imagine he would want to try seeing each other once we got back home. Clearly, I was sorely mistaken and that hurts more than I can express.

Perhaps this entire week was nothing more than a distraction for him. It meant so much more to me, but that’s because I allowed myself to be vulnerable. Big mistake. Turning away from him, I draw my legs up and stare out the window for the rest of the ride home. There’s nothing more to say and my heart is breaking on every level for what could’ve been.

When we reach the city, I give him directions to my apartment in the Village and he almost looks surprised. “What?” I ask as he pulls up to the curb.

“Nothing,” he says. “I just didn’t realize how close you are to my place.”

How convenient would that be if we were dating? I want to ask him where exactly he lives, but what’s the point? Getting out of the car, I shut the door and he follows me up to the building. I sigh, unlock the main door and then continue on to my apartment.

“Don’t expect anything fancy,” I warn him, unlocking my door. “I’m not nearly as extravagant as the rest of my family.”

“I don’t live on Billionaire’s Row, either,” he murmurs as we step inside and he looks around.

“It’s all I need. And it’s cozy.”

He nods, walking into the living room, checking it out.

“I’ll go pack.”

“Do it quickly, okay?”

“Wow. You can’t wait to get rid of me,” I state, my tone flat.

“It has nothing to do with getting rid of you,” he says. “This place isn’t safe and the sooner we leave, the better.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble and head down to my bedroom. All of my life, I’ve been bossed around and, dare I say, taken for granted. A part of me wants to stand my ground and put up a fight. A fight to stay here at my home and a fight to keep Damon.

Maybe I should start referring to him as Archer again. It might help me put space between us. It also hurts to consider.

Walking into my room, I look around, focus on my bed, and sigh heavily. That bed could’ve seen so much action, I think sadly. Oh, well. I’m used to sleeping alone, so it’ll be back to business as usual. Or, maybe I should say back to no business as usual.

I open my closet and pull my suitcase out, debating what I should bring with me on the trip when I hear a sound behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Damon standing in the doorway.

“Hurry up, Carlotta,” he tells me, and I frown.

“Why? What’s the big hur?—”

The rest of the sentence gets stuck in my throat when I hear a loud crash from the other room. It sounds like someone just broke the door down with a battering ram. I jump a mile and my stomach sinks sickeningly like I’m tipping over the first gigantic hill of a rollercoaster as Damon pulls his gun.

“Shut the door!” he hisses, rushing back toward the living room.

I wish I could say I listen well, but I don’t. Instead, I hurry after him, but it’s only because I’m scared for him and I want to help. I refuse to be a helpless female who runs and hides in the closet, hoping the bad guys don’t find her.

No way. That’s not me. As I run after Damon, I grab the racquet from my closet that I use when Angelo and I play racquetball every week, and I get ready to bash some assholes. Because I am not going down without a fight. If I’ve learned anything from my brothers, it’s to never show fear or back down in the face of a threat whether it’s in business or my personal life.

I’m not stupid, either. I know I’m probably smaller than most men and I’m not carrying a gun. Tightening my grip on the racquet’s handle, I skid to a halt in the archway leading out to the living room and momentarily freeze.

Three men are fighting Damon and in no world is that a fair fight. He’s doing a great job, swinging punches and launching kicks, but where the hell is his gun? I step forward, my gaze scanning the floor and then I see it. It lays near the couch, part of it hidden beneath, and must’ve gotten knocked out of his hands.

While Damon fights the thugs off, I sprint over to the couch. Just as I bend down to grab the gun, someone moves up behind me and shoves something into my back.

“Don’t move,” a deep voice growls.

Terror fills me because I know it must be the barrel of a gun. I automatically lift my hands in the air as Damon gives a pained shout.

Oh, God.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see him fall to the floor. His body twitches and I realize one of the thugs has taken him down with a stun gun. Panic threatens to consume me and all I can think about is his safety. If they shoot him while he’s immobilized, I will never forgive myself. Never get over it.

“Stop!” I yell. “Leave him alone!”

All eyes turn to me and I swallow hard.

“It’s me you want, not him. Don’t touch him and I’ll go with you. But if you lay one hand on him, I will fight and scream and you’ll have to shoot me dead first.”

I wave the racquet in front of me for good emphasis because I am not messing around. My gut knows Damon’s life is on the line and I need to protect him.

“Why’re you just standing there gawking? Let’s go, you idiots. Take me to Carmine Gallo like the good little thugs you are,” I taunt.

A strong hand wraps around my upper arm, squeezing it tightly. “You heard the bitch,” he growls. “The sooner we take her to Gallo, the sooner we get paid.”

“What about him?” the big guy asks, nudging a boot against Damon. Blood drips from the thug’s nose and I’m glad Damon managed to get a good hit in before the stun gun took him down.

“Leave him. He’s not our problem,” the other man responds then rips the racquet from my hands and throws it across the room. “But juice him again.”

As Gallo’s man drags me out of the apartment, I see the big guy stun Damon again then kick him hard in his side and my heart cries out. But at least I convinced them to leave him alone. He’s going to be okay, I tell myself. He has to be.

Me, though? Well, I have my doubts. Gallo is hellbent on revenge and it looks like he’s determined to take me out first.

But you better believe I will give him a piece of my mind before he does it. And I will not go out without a fight.